Sexual Self-Schemas of Bisexual Men

Abstract

This qualitative study investigated the sexual self-schemas and masculinity ideologies of 20 bisexual men. Sexual self-schema was defined as a cognitive generalization about sexual aspects of the self, as derived from past experience and sociocultural context, which guides current experiences and facilitates the processing of sexual information. In-depth interviews, a focus group, documentary evidence, and grounded theory analysis were used. Categories were coded and analyzed, revealing two models. The first, the sexual self-schema of bisexual men, is an eight-category model of the bisexual male sexual self-schema describing men's relationships with other men and with women, as well as attitudes about themselves. The second model, the process of emerging awareness of bisexual attraction, outlines how sexual and romantic relationship experiences lead to bisexual sexual orientation identity. The two theoretical models depict how bisexual men understand their own sexual self-schemas. Implications for counseling psychology research and practice are addressed.

Masculinity as an avoidance symptom of posttraumatic stress.

“…Endorsement of masculinity norms is associated with a range of problematic sexual behaviors, including soliciting prostitutes, compulsive masturbation, sexual promiscuity, serial affairs, or compulsive sexuality within a relationship (Cooper, Putnam, Planchon, & Boies, 1999; Lusterman, 1997). It may be that sexual assault survivors engage in nonrelational sex as a form of avoidance of authentic and emotionally intimate sexual relationships, circumventing the possibility of feeling emotionally (Cunningham & Russell, 2004; Elder, Morrow, & Brooks, 2015a, 2015b; Schmitt, 2005). Similar to other types of behavioral avoidance associated with PTSD symptoms following sexual trauma, such as substance use (Kaysen et al, 2014), nonrelational sex may be used to alleviate or attenuate psychological distress as a negative reinforce, which, over time, leads to prolonged PTSD symptoms (Jakupcak et al, 2010).…”

Syndemics of stigma, minority-stress, maladaptive coping, risk environments and littoral spaces among men who have sex with men using chemsex

“…Exposure to minority stress (social stress stemming from stigma and marginalisation) has been shown to increase health risks, but the processes through which this occurs are complex (Hatzenbuehler, Phelan, and Link 2013). The following factors have all been shown to negatively impact on physical and mental health, and on the development of sexual identity schema among men who have sex with men (Elder, Morrow, and Brooks 2015): harassment and microaggressions (Swim, Johnston, and Pearson 2009), forced concealment of identity (Pachankis 2007), internalised homophobia (Herek 2007), and disrupted identity-formation (Perez-Brumer et al 2015).…”

Minority stressors and connectedness among urban gay, bisexual, and queer men.

“…This finding may be related to the fact that bisexual men in the current sample were significantly less out compared to the other two groups of men. This may also be a reflection of the bisexual men in the current sample presenting themselves as heterosexual in a variety of contexts, in order to conform to perceived masculinity norms (Elder et al, 2015; Kjaran & Jóhannesson, 2016; Lu et al, 2019). Thus, concealing their bisexual identity may be protective against sexuality-based experiences of discrimination for these men (Kjaran & Jóhannesson, 2016; Lu et al, 2019).…”

“…This may be particularly relevant for GBQM who also have sex with women. For instance, bisexual men have reported altering their behavior to pass as heterosexual in some contexts, due to social pressures and internalized homonegativity/binegativity (Elder et al, 2015). Such findings add further evidence to the notion that sexual minority stress and identity concealment (i.e., being “straight acting”) may relate strongly to the well-being of GBQM.…”